Don’t miss this, y’all! As if having Doug and Dennis in the house wasn’t musical treat enough, everybody’s favorite Mel Melton is sitting in. We predict some serious harp dueling!

“MOST PEOPLE, UPON HEARING MUSIC BY DOUG DEMING AND THE JEWEL TONES, RECOGNIZE THEM AS A BAND THAT RETURNS TO THE ROOTS OF BLUES AS OPPOSED TO A CONTINUATION OF MODERN ADAPTATIONS OF THE STYLE… COMPLETELY RESTORED MY FAITH IN THE GENRE” -MUZIK REVIEWS

Eastside Detroit native Doug Deming, now hailing from Florida’s Gulf Coast, has garnered widespread attention for his deft guitar work and memorable songwriting. With a nod to the likes of T-Bone Walker and Charlie Christian, as well as Luther Tucker and Robert Jr. Lockwood, Doug leaves his own mark whether swingin’ on the big jazz box, or playing straight up blues on the solid body Fender guitar. While playing the local Detroit scene in the early 90’s, major players began to take notice, and Doug spent much of the following years backing many of the day’s top touring blues artists, including Fabulous Thunderbirds frontman Kim Wilson, legendary Louisiana swamp bluesman Lazy Lester, Gary Primich, Chicago greats Johnny “Yard Dog” Jones, and A.C. Reed, as well as Detroit’s own Queen of the Blues, Alberta Adams. Leading his band, The Jewel Tones, Doug continues to bring noteworthy traditional and original roots music to his audiences.

Doug’s latest recording, What’s it Gonna Take, exhibits the outstanding guitar work and remarkable singing and songwriting that have become Doug’s calling card. Paired with acclaimed harp man and touring partner Dennis Gruenling, and backed by the new Jewel Tones line-up of Andrew Gohman on upright and Fender bass, and Devin Neel on drums, What’s it Gonna Take is available now on the VizzTone label.

DENNIS GRUENLING On the road, Doug teams up with long time road partner, award winning harp man and VizzTone label mate, Dennis Gruenling. From Dennis’ site: “Dennis has pulled in countless fans and numerous accolades from critics & musicians around the world for his swinging, highly original harmonica sound and style. Taking equal parts from the harmonica and swing/saxophone traditions and styles, Dennis has pushed the boundaries further for the sound of blues, while in the meantime pioneering a whole new sound and direction for the harmonica.” Dennis credits Little Walter and George “Harmonica” Smith as his major influences, and calls his style “a mix of Chicago blues harmonica meets swing and R&B sax style of guys like Red Prysock, Paul Williams, and Lester Young”.

MADISON SLIM bought himself a harp after hearing his first Little Walter record while in the US Air Force. Thus began a storied career that took him from his hometown roots in Madison, WI to become a serious road warrior – playing, recording and touring over the years with Bryan Lee, Little Jimmy Valentine, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Sam Lay, The Legendary Blues Band, Rev. Raven and the late great Jimmy Rogers, to name a few. Madison Slim plays pure blues, of the South Side Chicago variety, a world renowned harmonica player and singer who has been shaking the shack since the early days at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln, NE with the Heart Murmurs. Slim has appeared on the Conan O’Brien Show with Jimmy Rogers, and you can catch him live and up close with Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones at most of their Florida shows.

ANDREW GOHMAN Born in Ohio and raised in Florida, Andrew Gohman started playing traditional blues guitar at the age of 15 and picked up the bass much later at age 25. Andrew played the Tampa/St. Pete blues scene regularly with his group the Bottom Feeders until joining the Jewel Tones full time in 2011. A bona fide audiophile, with interests ranging from traditional blues to jump to jazz, Andrew credits many influences, including Ransom Knowling, Ernest “Big” Crawford, Keith Ferguson, Jack Myers and Bill Willis, to name just a few. Andrew brings the grease to every performance, whether laying down the groove on his Fender, or pullin’ and slappin’ on his ’42 Kay upright.

DEVIN NEEL Another midwestern transplant, Devin Neel spent his youth in Indiana, playing piano since age 8, then turning to percussion in college at age 19. Devin has since played drums locally in several groups, and in various genres, and has toured previously with The Damon Fowler Group. Devin credits countless influences spanning many styles and rounds out The Jewel Tones rhythm section, providing the downbeat with his tasty swing and traditional blues beats.

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Reviews

Best service, great people, huge local music support and did I mention the food is the best!?

Lenny T, Cary NC

Best BBQ ever! Love playing here…always the happiest and most accomodating folks around.

George H, via Facebook

Best ribs I’ve had anywhere.
The mac n cheese is incredible. Very reasonable prices and friendly service. Plus live music most nights.

Adam J., Apex, NC

Absolutely DELICIOUS RIBS.
First time here and well better than I expected. Looks grungy from outside, but the food is TOP NOTCH. The ribs felll off the bone. Might be the best ribs in all of DURHAM

John M., Durham, NC

The friendliest place in the Triangle, good music, good food. Always a fun time.

Mike Conway, via Facebook

Get out and see Brice Street this weekend @ the best music venue in Durham!!! Great food and an incredible team of owners , Andrea and Bill!!! AAAAAAAAAAA+++++++++++

Steven B. Hill, via Facebook

Best Blues and BBQ in Durham!

Karen Poole, Durham, North Carolina

This place is the essence of NC bbq!!! Want some fried pickles? The bread pudding is to DIE for!!

Leah Denise Wyatt, Durham, NC

Their ribs, oh my god their ribs. Get them and have a life changing experience.

Taylor Tate, Greensboro, NC

“Great food and blues”
Very small place, but the food and blues jam is something not to be missed! During the blues jam session its like a little community, everyone knows everyone and they are not afraid to introduce themselves! I went for my first time and got introduced to almost everyone. The blues jam was amazing, i had so much fun just sipping on a beer and listening to the musicians.

Shelby L., Raleigh, North Carolina

Great place!
The love music was great and it made for a great atmosphere. I love BBQ and ribs and this place made them both very well and they had good drinks. Our server was efficient and attentive. It was an overall great place with a nice down home feel.

Sean Y., Durham, NC

Great local place for cheap drinks, music, and food! Get the deluxe burrito and be ready to be completely satisfied!

Christine M., Las Vegas, NV

Stumbled upon this place while on vacation, the food was amazing, there was live music. I might make the 8 hour drive from my home just for this.

Caitlyn W., Durham, NC

Alas! A place where yelp reviews did not lead me astray in Durham.
Either places are overhyped or they are bashed and when you visit are actually better than the bashing has stated leaving me happy I didn’t listen and took a risk. This wasn’t the case with Blue Note. It was exactly as described. Quaint, no frills just plain old good food establishment. We sat outside in a quiet side searing area and sipped on $5 special cocktails while enjoying some fresh country air. Hubs ordered half rack of ribs with baked beans and fries. I ordered my go to test in any BBQ joint-pulled pork sandwich and sweet potato fries. We were both quite pleased with portion size, price, service and taste. Most importantly the taste. How perfectly moist and pulled and not overly sauced my sandwich was, with a fresh and not overly mayonnaisey slaw and fresh crisp bread…

Michelle S., Miami, FL

I have fallen in love with this hole in the wall!
First of all, if you’re planning on enjoying the live music (which you should), get there early so you can nab a table inside close to the band. Food wise you definitely must have the wet ribs. I’m usually a pulled pork person because I only like really tender ribs but these ribs were spectacular – literally just fell right off the bone when I tried to pick them up so I had to use a fork. Also get the coleslaw and BBQ bread to soak up any extra sauce…

Anne C., Orlando, FL

The BNG is my second living room. Ok, ok, I know that it’s really Bill and Andrea’s living room, but they seem content to share it with the likes of me and all the other regulars. Our home away from home. Where everybody knows our name. I keep threatening to move into the Boom-Boom Room (their back room.) Thank you both for letting us hang out and feed our musical souls and mouths! By the way, those BBQ ribs are a wonderous thing.

Deborah Miller, Chapel Hill, NC

Voted Best Place

The Blue Note Grill was voted INDY Best of the Triangle 2017: Best Place to hear Blues (winner) and Best Place to hear Bluegrass (finalist)! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your friendship and support! ~ Bill and Andrea Gay Whittington